Gum arabic, also known as acacia gum, is
a natural gum made of the hardened sap of two species of the acacia
tree. Producers harvest the gum commercially from wild trees, 80% of the
production in Sudan. Defined as a cold water-soluble polysaccharide,
gum arabic is a multi-functional hydrocolloid that features a highly
branched arabino-galactan-protein complex. Gum Arabic is used primarily
in the food industry as a stabilizer. It is edible and has E
number E414. Gum Arabic is a key ingredient in traditional
lithography and is used in printing, paint production, glue, cosmetics
and various industrial applications, including viscosity control
in inks and in textile industries. While gum Arabic is now produced
mostly throughout the African Sahel, it is still harvested and used in
the Middle East.
Sudan is still the world's largest single producer, and the production of gum arabic is heavily controlled by the Sudanese government.
Sudan is still the world's largest single producer, and the production of gum arabic is heavily controlled by the Sudanese government.
Benefits
They have vast number of benefits, few mentioned below:
- Gum Arabic is used as a thickening agent in icing, fillings, chewing gum and other confectionery treats.
- Gum Arabic is used as a binder for watercolor painting because it dissolves easily in water.
- Gum Arabic is also used as a water-soluble binder in fireworks composition.
- Due to high content of fiber, it can help with digestive issues and help in weight loss.
- It is also widely used in Pharmaceuticals, Vitamins and Cosmetics
